At Blackwater River State Forest, each of the recreation areas offers access to hiking, and popular Bear Lake is no exception. A 4-mile trail loops around this impounded reservoir, which flows into Sweetwater Creek.
Visiting Blackwater River State Forest
Activities in Blackwater River State Forest, northeast of Pensacola.
Coldwater Gardens
A private nature retreat north of Milton, Coldwater Gardens is a study in serenity, melding camping, gardening, and enjoyment of natural habitats along the Coldwater Creek basin.
Crestview
A Florida Trail Gateway Community – where hikers walk right through the historic downtown – Crestview is located on a high ridge and receives a high amount of rainfall each year.
Florida Trail for Scouting
There are many opportunities for Boy Scouts to complete hiking and backpacking merit badges and 50-miler awards along the Florida Trail; this list will start you planning your next trip.
Florida Trail, Blackwater
45.5 miles. Branching off the Eglin section east of Milton, the Blackwater section provides backpackers a place to immerse in the beauty of Blackwater River State Forest. Portions of three trails – Juniper Creek Trail, Jackson Red Ground Trail, and Wiregrass Trail – make up the Florida Trail, which reaches the Alabama border to connect with the larger Eastern Continental Trail. This is a blue-blazed side trail.
Florida Trail, Juniper Creek
The Florida Trail along Juniper Creek (also known as the Juniper Creek Trail) is a gorgeous place to explore in springtime, when mountain laurel blooms in both pink and white and the dogwoods put on a show
Florida Trail, Yellow River Ravines
For an acrobatic adventure on the Florida Trail, the 7.9-mile Yellow River section near Holt tosses both tricky swamp traverses and creative creek crossings your way.
Following the Juniper Creek Trail
Day 3 of the Panhandle Trace Hike Yesterday, while being shuttled back to camp, we drove through an area that was still burning. The forest was black and charred, filled with thick smoke. As we drove past, we watched for small flames still brightly burning. Our first thought was why would the forest service do […]
Hiking the Hills of Hutton
With our switcheroo on the previous day – skipping the burned zone of the Jackson Trail to walk the Juniper Creek Trail back to the campground – Day Four of the Panhandle Trace Hike had us headed northbound for the first time on this trek. Peggy had hikers going in all directions and for different […]
In the Land of Tall Pines
Day Two of the Panhandle Trace Hike started off where we’d left the trail the day before, at Kennedy Bridge. After we dropped off our cars at the end point for the hike, McVay Road, Peggy, Helen, and other members of the Western Gate Chapter shuttled us to the starting point. We asked how long […]